Hostelworld.com

As the tour bus undulated through the green curvaceous hills in the land of Germany, I wondered how this beautiful country preserved its heritage through all its tumultuous years. Germany, a pristine country burdened by years of anguish and economic turmoil, quietly sits enveloped in valleys of sacred settlements where the church still presides in the heart of the town, welcoming visitors of all descents.

I, an American, often viewed my country as superior and like most Americans demonstrate a sense of keen loyalty and nationality for this relatively new country. However, as my eyes opened wider upon site of the luscious greenery and the Hansel and Gretel houses, my heart felt a new sense of pride. I was after all, of European descent.

I thought about my own country and the rate at which land is engulfed by greedy developers who assemble vast housing complexes overnight. Even conservation land, such as the Florida Everglades, are built upon, the assembled homes are bound to sink into the swampland one day soon. Our express food chains, our fried meats and fatty substances, customers inhaling the greasy morsels as they rush around town, ruling their lives as their watches permit. If we live in such a free country why are so many of us so imprisoned by time?

America is an express country. I am going to grab lunch at the drive thru, quickly withdraw money from the ATM, pick up my laundry at the express cleaners, eat a microwave dinner, and buy a lottery ticket in hopes of winning a quick million dollars. How do we have time to live life without rushing through it? As I sat on the tour bus and gazed outward at fog coated hilltops, I thought I had been transported centuries backward to a time when life was still simplex. Germany had succeeded in retaining its solidarity while America is slaughtering its unity.

What is our country transforming into? A money utopia where everyone sleeps on one hundred dollar bills but awakens the next day without character? Character, which fosters the simplicity of life and retains one's individuality. Do we have to strive for anything at all? A facade of skillfully decorated shops, advertisements suggesting one is nothing without money, and cut throat business environments. America is a jaded country.

Centuries of dedication and hardship have done well for Germany. The land is uncontaminated, natural, and picturesque. Every foundation has a story and travelers listen intently while sitting in an old building intermingled with a sense of dust and ghosts. The churches date back to timeless centuries past and are encompassed by wild foliage, protecting the innocent structures. Antique cuckoo clocks chime every hour, displaying beautifully crafted woodwork. Subdued waterfalls and springs nestle themselves in quaint locations, soothing everything in their vicinity.

The rural lands of Germany remain in a time of their own, standing tall and proud against the changing winds. The Germans have suffered, conquered, and restored their civilization to reflect a traditional, but modern society. Their economy is a European stronghold, yet life's true riches have been neither jeopardized nor forgotten.